Cowboys Improve To 7-3 With Win Over Falcons

This Saturday marked Veterans Day across the United States. On this particular Veterans Day, the Wyoming Cowboys made their way to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Academy. The cadets of Air Force will graduate and go onto careers in the military across the world in a variety of occupations. However, on Saturday in Colorado Springs, the Cowboys were there to salute the soldiers and continue their march towards the postseason. The Cowboys, after a win at Air Force on Saturday night now have seven wins on the season. The Cowboys defeated Air Force 28-14 behind a great defensive effort. The Falcons, to their credit, did not help themselves as they turned the ball over three times, allowing the Cowboys to score 21 points.

The night was a good night for the Cowboys, however, Josh Allen left the game early in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury to his upper body. It appeared that Allen injured his hand in the first half and re-aggravated his injury in the first drive of the second half. Allen left the field and immediately went into the training tent, then the locker room. Allen was later on the sidelines in sweats and did not move his right hand/arm from his sweatshirt. Post-game Craig Bohl said he had no comment on Allen’s injury and Allen would be unavailable to the press.

The Cowboys got the scoring started early in the first quarter when Trey Woods punched in a one-yard touchdown. This was the first of the Cowboys’ scoring off turnovers. The Cowboys would get back on the board early in the second quarter as Josh Allen hit Jake Scott for a 17-yard touchdown, a bullet thrown by Allen. Allen would put the Cowboys up 21-0 on a two-yard touchdown run, as he basically walked into the end zone behind a pulling guard in a play that capped a ten play 69-yard drive.

Air Force would get on the board right before the half with an 11 play 80-yard drive when Arion Worthman connected on a pass to Marcus Bennett on a 22-yard score. Air Force wasn’t done scoring as Taven Birdow scored from ten yards out to close the lead to seven on the first Air Force drive of the second half.

Wyoming would ice the game in the middle of the fourth quarter on a drive quarterbacked by Nick Smith when Kellen Overstreet saved the game for Wyoming for the second consecutive week. Overstreet punched in a nine-yard touchdown to give the Cowboys a cushion and let the defense ride the game out.

The Wyoming defense was again phenomenal. They gave up 14 points and 378 yards to Air Force. The defense also forced three turnovers which led to points on the scoreboard. Marcus Epps recorded an interception, while Jalen Ortiz and Garret Crall each recovered fumbles.

Allen was 8/11 for 70 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for -15 yards and a touchdown. Trey Woods rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown, and Kellen Overstreet contributed 45 rushing yards and a score. Trey Woods also had one catch for 38 yards on a pass from Nick Smith. Woods’ catch in the fourth quarter was a critical play in keeping the Wyoming offense moving for the deciding score.

On defense, Logan Wilson recorded 12 tackles, while Youhanna Ghaifan had 11 tackles and a sack. Taniela Lolohea recorded a sack at the end of the game to stop Air Force’s last chance to get back in the game. Wyoming’s defense held Air Force to 203 yards rushing on the day, Taven Birdow leading all rushers with 82 yards. Falcon quarterback Arion Worthman was 10/22 for 175 yards with a touchdown and interception while rushing for just 28 yards on 17 carries. Falcon running back Timothy McVey rushed for 33 yards.

Wyoming will face off against Fresno State (7-3, 5-1) next weekend in Laramie in the final home game of the 2017 season. The game will be televised by AT&T Sportsnet starting at noon.